Fractions, multiples and comparison: ބައިކުޅަ, ގުނަ, ވުރެ
A fraction is read the other way round: the denominator first, then the service word ބައިކުޅަ, then the numerator. ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި — a third, literally "of three parts one part". ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި — a quarter. For example: “ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭ” — A third of the class did not come. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
A fraction is read the other way round: the denominator first, then the service word ބައިކުޅަ, then the numerator. ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (thinbaikulha ehbai) — a third, literally "of three parts one part". ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (hatharubaikulha ehbai) — a quarter.
Half and one-and-a-half are words of their own: ބައި (bai) and ދޮޅު (dholhu). ދޮޅު ގަޑިއިރު (dholhu gadiiru) — "an hour and a half". Beyond one and a half the row stops.
Multiples are assembled with the word ގުނަ (guna): ދެގުނަ (dheguna) — twice, ތިންގުނަ (thinguna) — three times, ދިހަ ގުނަ (dhiha guna) — ten times over.
Comparison rests on ވުރެ (vure), and it stands AFTER what you compare with: އަހަރެންނަށްވުރެ ދިގު — "taller than me". The quality has no comparative form of its own: ބޮޑު (bodu) is both "big" and "bigger".
Table
| the turn | how it is assembled | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| a fraction | the denominator + ބައިކުޅަ + the numerator | ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި | a third |
| a fraction | the same | ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި | a quarter |
| one and a half | a separate word | ދޮޅު ގަޑިއިރު | one and a half hours |
| multiples | a number + ގުނަ | ތިންގުނަ | three times |
| comparison | a noun + -އަށްވުރެ + the quality | އަހަރެންނަށްވުރެ ދިގު | taller than me |
| the superlative | އެންމެ + the quality | އެންމެ މަތީ | the topmost |
By example
- ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭklaahuge thinbaikulha ehbai naadheyA third of the class did not come
- އަގު ދެގުނަ ބޮޑުވި، އެކަމަކު އާމްދަނީ ހުރިގޮތަށްagu dheguna boduvi, ekamaku aamdhanee hurigothahThe price doubled, but the income stayed as it was
- މާލޭގެ އާބާދީ މި ރަށަށްވުރެ ދިހަ ގުނަ ބޮޑުmaaleyge aabaadhee mi rashahvure dhiha guna boduThe population of Malé is ten times bigger than on this island
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Fractions, multiples and comparison: how does it work in Maldivian?
A fraction is read the other way round: the denominator first, then the service word ބައިކުޅަ, then the numerator. ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި — a third, literally "of three parts one part". ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި — a quarter.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭ” (klaahuge thinbaikulha ehbai naadhey) — A third of the class did not come. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.